Now that the BOL has passed the plebiscite and been ratified by the people it's time for the ARMM to pass the torch to the BARMM.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/27/1897169/armm-turns-over-power-bangsamoro-authority |
Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao turned over the ARMM government to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in a simple but emotional event here yesterday.
The turnover of ARMM to Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, interim chief minister of BTA, signaled the start of its replacement with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In an emotional speech, Hataman said he is confident that the BARMM will be a good vehicle for the attainment of lasting peace and sustainable development in its core territory – all five provinces of the ARMM.
“Let us now unite, do away with tribalism, let the Yakans, Maguindanaons, Meranaos, Tausug and Samah people and the lumads unite now under this Bangsamoro government,” Hataman said.
The BARMM is a product of 22 years of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that Ebrahim leads as figurehead of its central leadership core.
The ARMM was established by Republic Act 6734. In this law one of the guiding principles of the ARMM is the following.
Section 5. The Regional Government shall adopt measures to ensure mutual respect for and protection of the distinct beliefs, customs, and traditions among its inhabitants in the spirit of unity in diversity and peaceful co-existence: Provided, That no person in the Autonomous Region shall, on the basis of creed, religion, ethnic origin, parentage or sex, be subjected to any form of discrimination.
https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1989/ra_6734_1989.html
This law tells us that unity was to be a guiding principle of the ARMM yet Governor Mujiv Hataman is encouraging the people to unite and do away with tribalism under the new BARMM. If no unity was obtained under the ARMM why should anyone think the opposite will prevail within the new BARMM? What exactly is going to be different? The only real difference between the ARMM and BARMM is an increase of sovereignty and money given from Manila.
The tribalism Hataman speaks of is one of the major sources for the disunity and complete chaos throughout Mindanao.
In a speech before barangay leaders in Pasay City on Monday night, the President said Moro National Liberation Front founding chair Nur Misuari preferred to be called a Tausug.
“They won’t say, ‘Philippines,’ when they go out and are asked, ‘What are you? Me? I am Tausug, I am Maranao.’ They won’t say, ‘I’m a Filipino.’ Maybe those diplomats and those in career positions in government, but not the average Moro,” the President said.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1090155/duterte-ph-named-after-spanish-despot
The inhabitants of the BARMM won't unite because of a tribalism which is ingrained in their culture. It is only as Filipinos that these tribes could be united and still keep their tribal differences but they do not want to be Filipinos.
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| http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/996061/house-oks-bbl-bill-but-senate-introduces-contentious-changes |
“Most [of the original BBL provisions] were contentious,” said Sen. Ralph Recto who, along with Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, introduced most of the amendments.
“[Its] framework to begin with is forming a state, which is unconstitutional, until we adopt a federal form of government,” Recto said.
Drilon successfully moved for the inclusion of a provision reiterating “that the Bangsamoro people are citizens of the Republic of the Philippines.” Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the bill sponsor, said this was opposed by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.
The leader of the BARMM transition team is MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/24/19/fighter-to-minister-philippine-muslim-rebels-new-struggle |
Murad Ebrahim's life as the Philippines' top Muslim rebel led him into fierce jungle combat and to meet with Osama bin Laden, but a very different challenge now awaits him: governing.
Murad has been tapped to lead the majority-Catholic nation's brand new territory in the restive south where Muslims have won new powers and an influx of cash in a push for peace.
After decades as a rebel, Murad will need to become a bureaucrat and complete complex projects as chief minister of the body that will steer the new Bangsamoro region until elections in 2022.
"We also see the difficult challenge we will be facing ahead. To us, the struggle is not yet over," the 70-year-old Murad told AFP. "This is only another level of the struggle."
The MILF is the largest of several rebel groups fighting for independence or autonomy in Mindanao, the ancestral homeland of the nation's roughly 6 million-strong Muslim minority.
Rebels and the government hope the new region, which is getting an influx of cash, will be able to bring sorely needed development to the violence-plagued area.
During his years as commander, Murad led battles not from afar but joined his men at the frontlines, said presidential peace adviser and former military chief Carlito Galvez.
"We did not see him committing any abuses," Galvez told AFP. "He fought not because of an urge to kill. He saw that fighting is not between people but between ideologies, to correct an injustice."
Security experts say Murad and the MILF will be hard-pressed to govern for the first time while facing threats from pro-Islamic State groups in Mindanao.
Murad will also have to deal with resentment from families of civilians and soldiers killed or affected by previous battles, according to Julkipli Wadi, a professor of Islamic studies at the University of the Philippines.
"Murad should extend a hand of reconciliation even to (non-Muslims) so he would be able to extract himself from the ghosts of the past," Wadi told AFP.
Since the BARMM is the culmination of the Philippine government's peace agreement with the MILF it makes sense that the chairman of the organisation will be leading the transition from ARMM to BARMM. But it is rather ridiculous to sugarcoat Murad Ebrahim as a man fighting "to correct an injustice" who has not committed any abuses when the fact is he is a bona fide terrorist and the MILF is a terrorist organisation that at one time declared a jihad against the Philippine government. ISIS has also declared jihad against the Philippine government. Are we to accept that declaration of war because they are fighting for an ideology? The act of being a rebel and killing citizens as well as soldiers, is that not an abuse, an atrocity!? To say this man has not committed any abuses is a lie of the highest magnitude.
The history of MILF is too much to rehearse in this space but the short of it is that the MILF is a breakaway group from the MNLF. The reason for the split back in 1977 was the signing of a peace agreement between the MNLF and the Philippine government.
In 1976, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi brokered a negotiation between the Philippine government and MNLF Leader Nur Misuari which led to the signing of the MNLF-GRPH Tripoli Agreement of 1976 wherein the MNLF accepted the Philippine government's offer of semi-autonomy of the regions in dispute.
The signing of this agreement brought about a serious rift in MNLF leadership, leading to the formation of a breakaway group in 1977 by Hashim Salamat and 57 MNLF officers. The group was initially known as "The New Leadership". Misuari expelled Salamat in December 1977, after which Salamat moved his new organization first to Cairo, Egypt and then, in 1980, to Lahore, Pakistan, where it engaged in diplomatic activities. This organization was formally established in 1984 as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Muammar Gaddafi became a longstanding supporter of the MILF after its emergence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_Islamic_Liberation_Front
Now this is where the irony becomes rather thick. The peace agreement brokered between Gaddafi and the government is what lead to the formation of the ARMM in 1987. The MNLF accepted this offer of autonomy but the MILF did not.
In January 1987, the MNLF accepted the Philippine government's offer of semi-autonomy of the regions in dispute, subsequently leading to the establishment of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao on 6 November 1990. The MILF, however, refused to accept this offer and continued their insurgency operations. A general cessation of hostilities between the government in Manila and the MILF was signed in July 1997 but this agreement was abolished in 2000 by the Philippine Army under the administration of Philippine President Joseph Estrada. In response, the MILF declared a jihad against the government, its citizens and supporters. Under President Gloria Arroyo, the government entered into a cease-fire agreement with the MILF and resumed peace talks.
Despite peace negotiations and the cease-fire agreement, the MILF attacked government troops in Maguindanao resulting in at least twenty-three deaths in January 2005. The combined armies of the MILF and Abu Sayyaf were involved in days of fighting which necessitated government troops using heavy artillery to engage rebel forces.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_Islamic_Liberation_Front
If the MILF was engaged in a wholly ideological fight to correct injustices then they should have accepted the ARMM but they did not. Why not? It doesn't make any sense when their stated goal is:
It seeks to establish an independent Islamic state, and to that end has mounted a series of terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets in the southern Philippines.
https://web.archive.org/web/20080709075858/http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/moro.cfm
The ARMM established an autonomous albeit not independent region in Mindanao for the Muslims. Perhaps it was not perfect but it was certainly a starting point which should have lead both the MNLF and MILF to cease from their rebellion and work toward the goals they so longed for. But this did not happen.
It's mind-boggling that a former AFP Chief would sugarcoat the activities of Murad Ebrahim who leads a group that engaged in war against the government and spilled the blood of thousands as recently as 2015 with the execution of the SAF 44. The MILF is a terrorist group plain and simple. So is the MNLF and its leader Misuari.
It's mind-boggling that a former AFP Chief would sugarcoat the activities of Murad Ebrahim who leads a group that engaged in war against the government and spilled the blood of thousands as recently as 2015 with the execution of the SAF 44. The MILF is a terrorist group plain and simple. So is the MNLF and its leader Misuari.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/686176/duterte-misuari-meet-in-palace-amid-rumblings-from-mnlf/story/ |
"What transpired last night was the President told the [MNLF] chairman that he admired his patience and he apologized for not having implemented or enforced whatever agreements that they had previously with respect to federalism or something. And they would be talking again precisely for that," the Palace official said at a news conference.
The meeting came after the President spoke before barangay officials on Monday about “rumblings” within the MNLF, which allegedly complained about the composition of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-led Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
“There are rumblings about the MNLF. Sabi namin, come and join, but Misuari is gnawing out and I have ordered the military and police, may kaso siya, allow siya, he will come back,” he said at the 1st National Assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
It's comical and sad. It's comical that the MNLF is mad about the peace deal made with the MILF which switches their previous roles where the MILF was mad about the peace deal made with the MNLF. It's sad that the President is apologising to a terrorist who waged war against the government. Misuari should be in jail awaiting trial for his role in the Zamboanga attack in 2013 but Duterte does not want that because he is "too old."
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/577304/due-to-mnlf-leader-s-old-age-duterte-doesn-t-want-misuari-detained/story/ |
"With his fragile age, I don't want him detained... It's better that he stays there," Duterte said.
Duterte said it would be a big problem for the country if Misuari died while under government custody.
"Malaking problema yan, you lose the chance to have peace talks with anybody there," Duterte said.
Misuari is the subject of a warrant of arrest issued in 2013 over the 20-day Zamboanga City siege, which led to the deaths of over 200 people and the displacement of thousands of others.
The issuance of arrest warrants came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed rebellion charges and violation of the International Humanitarian Law against Misuari, MNLF commander Habier Malik and 60 others.
Duterte may wish to drop charges against Misuari but Zamboanga City is firm on pursuing cases against Misuari and they were not thrilled about the release of 96 prisoners charged with taking part in the 2013 rebellion.
City Administrator Marie Angelique Go told reporters the city does not have further information on the court's decision to free the 97. The city government earlier said the detainees had entered into a plea bargain agreement to lower the charges to sedition from rebellion.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/05/28/1819430/zamboanga-city-guard-96-charged-over-siege-freed
Could it be that Duterte influenced the court to reduce the charges and release those men? That is very much a possibility since he admitted this week that he pulled some strings to get the Sandiganbayan to allow Misuari to leave the country.
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| https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/26/duterte-eyes-peace-deal-with-mnlf/ |
The government is prepared to craft a new peace deal with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) amid plans to resume talks with its chairman Nur Misuari, President Duterte announced Tuesday night.
The President said Misuari, former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has also expressed willingness “to talk, not fight” with his government during their conversation in Malacañang Monday night.
“Itong kay Nur, areglo na tayo. Sabi ni Nur, he’s willing to talk. He’s waiting for me to make a decisive decision when he comes back,” the President said during the assembly of the League of the Municipalities in the Philippines at the Manila Hotel.
“Sabi ko it’s time to craft a new deal for the MNLF,” he added.
He said that Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año would be tasked to help craft the agreement with the MNLF.
“Kailangan pa natin ‘yan. And but they are revolutions driven with territorial intentions or objectives,” he said.
Duterte noted that the government’s talks with the MNLF would be held when Misuari returns from his trip abroad.
While President Duterte may have an easier time addressing Misuari’s sentiments, the task of appeasing another disgruntled key member of the MNLF may be more difficult.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that they are taking seriously the threat made by a Moro leader lawyer Firdausi Abbas that he would establish a new faction in protest of the MILF’s hold of majority of positions in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
Abbas protested what he called a “virtual dictatorship” by the MILF, even questioning their ability to govern the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“They (MNLF) are included as they have seven members in the BTA,” Lorenzana said.
“What I overheard is that they are sulking because only seven of them are included. But they are still fortunate to have seven members in the BTA,” he added.
When asked to clarify his statement, Lorenzana said the BOL or Bangsamoro Organic Law is a Moro Islamic Liberation Front activity.
“This BOL is like more of an MILF activity. During the campaign period for the BOL, the most active is the MILF,” Lorenzana said.
The Sandiganbayan had earlier granted Misuari’s motion to travel to the United Arab Emirates and Morocco to attend the summits of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers as well as the 14th Session of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Cooperation Member States next month.
Duterte admitted he made some arrangements to allow the safe passage of Misuari, believing the MNLF leader would return to the country. He added that he considers Misuari as his brother.
“Now there is Misuari, he saw me last night. He was not allowed by the court to go out because he has pending charges when he was armed. So I had to make some arrangements. Sabi ko, this is a personal request of me, which I do not do at any time, at any other time,” he said.
“Sabi ko, papasukin – ah palabasin ninyo. Sabi ko, for the sake of – alam mo na because I still have to craft,” he said.
Misuari also assured the President that he would return home after his trip abroad.
“Whenever we see, we embrace each other because I consider him a brother. Tapos sabi niya, ‘papuntahin mo lang ako, babalik ako.’ Sabi ko, ‘Fine. You have done that several times, you can go.’ So nag-courtesy call siya tapos umalis siya,” Duterte said.
The President has admitted that he "had to make some arrangements" for the Sandiganbayan to allow Misuari to travel to the UAE and Morocco to attend a conference. A known terrorist has been allowed to leave the country because the President, who considers him a brother and too old to sit in prison, made some "arrangements."
Next we learn everything else that I have written about and which others have warned about namely that the BOL is all about the MILF. It is the government's peace agreement with the MILF. It concerns them and no one else. The MNLF is lucky to have seven seats on the BTA. The Philippines has come full circle in Mindanao and its dealing with Muslim separatists. First the MNLF gets a peace deal with autonomy which is the basis of the ARMM and which some members do not like so they breakaway and form the MILF. Now the MILF gets a peace deal with autonomy which replaces the MNLF's ARMM with the BARMM and the MNLF does not like it and some of the members are threatening to form a breakaway group. Both peace deals are basically the same. Or at least the second is an expansion of the first granting more autonomy and more economic incentives. The first peace deal did not bring peace but we are expected to believe the second will. And lo and behold a third peace deal lies in the distance. Perhaps.
Why would the Philippine government supplant the peace deal from 1977 made with the MNLF which led to the ARMM with a new deal with a breakaway group from the MNLF which rejected that peace deal, namely the MILF? Why wouldn't the MNLF set out to make the ARMM work but instead continue to engage in rebellion? It was their peace deal. Why should they expect another one? What have they to be angry about when they messed it all up? Because it's not enough. It will never be enough until full independence has been achieved.
Why would the Philippine government supplant the peace deal from 1977 made with the MNLF which led to the ARMM with a new deal with a breakaway group from the MNLF which rejected that peace deal, namely the MILF? Why wouldn't the MNLF set out to make the ARMM work but instead continue to engage in rebellion? It was their peace deal. Why should they expect another one? What have they to be angry about when they messed it all up? Because it's not enough. It will never be enough until full independence has been achieved.
Nur Misuari, leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that signed a peace pact with the government in 1996, on Wednesday surfaced to renew his accusation that the government reneged on its word in the agreement. "We want freedom from the government. We don't need a limited freedom," Misuari said in Zamboanga City where he met with about 200 former rebels and supporters, some from as far as Davao del Sur province. "I have gone to all of the most dangerous places in Mindanao to tell our people to pray to almighty Allah for freedom. I call on our people to consolidate their unity and solidarity for freedom," he said.
Misuari also spoke with his loyal MNLF leaders at the Lantaka hotel in downtown Zamboanga before attending a prayer in the nearby village of Santa Barbara. Misuari, joined by supporters and former rebels-turned-government soldiers, chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) as they marched to the village. "We really want our freedom back. The government was not really sincere in implementing the peace agreement it signed with us. We want our freedom and we want independence," one of Misuari's supporters, Abdulkadil Imdani, said. Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat held a closed-door meeting with Misuari at the Garden Orchid hotel.
Misuari said his group has nothing to do with the peace talks between the government and the MILF. "We are not involved in the peace process between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF. We are not part of any agreement between the government and the MILF," he said. The MNLF, under Misuari, signed the peace deal with Manila in September 1996 ending decades of war. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the peace accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/111836/misuari-accuses-govt-anew-of-failing-to-honor-1996-peace-deal/story/These people want independence. They want their own Islamic state which is not beholden to the Philippine government. That the government can't admit this and continues to give hope to that dream by granting limited autonomy is madness. That the MNLF and MILF have now reversed roles is madness. That anyone thinks the BARMM will bring a lasting peace is madness. It's all madness!
Madness? THIS! IS! MINDANAO!
